Vibration insensitive galvanometer



1952 HENRI-GEORGES DOLL 2,615,935

VIBRATION INSENSITIVE"GALVANOMETER DEVICE Original Filed .March 8, 1946 I s I; L

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E EI'EJQ INVEN TOR. 8 HENRI-GEORGES DOLL HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 VIBRATION INSENSITIVE GALVANOMETEE DEVICE.

Henri-Georges Doll, Ridgefield; Conm, assignor to Schlumberger Well Survey-ing- Corporation, Houston, Tex, a. corporation of Delaware Original application .March 8, 1.946, Serial, No.. 653,185. Divided and this application May I2, 1950, Serial No. 161,642

(Cl. HIP-95.):

3. Claims.

This application is a division of my copending -application Serial No. 653,185, now Patent: No.

2,523,866, filed March 8, 1946; for Vibration Insensitive Galvanometer.

This. invention relates to improvements. in measuring instruments that are. capable of inidicating or recording the value of a' variable quantity, and it relates particularly to improvements in galvanometers: of the type. used in recording and indicating devices whereby an indication or record of a variable; electrical; value is obtained by deflection-1 of a lightbeam relatively to a scale or to a light sensitive record strip or film;

It has: been recognized. that. highly sensitive galvanometers and other types of. measuring instruments having a rotary or pivotally mounted member responsive" to variations in the: value of the. quantity being measured are also sensitive tov mechanical; vibrations... order to. prevent inaccurate operation. of,. and damage" to, such galvanometers, for example; they have been mounted rigidly and in such. a manner as: tov shield them from vibration.

It is' not difficult to shield galvanometersrfrom' vibration in a.- laboratoryfor the reason. that they can be mounted permanently on. rigid; foundations, thereby suppressing; shock; and; vi bration.v However, for many purposes; and under; many conditions, it is impossible to provide: such rigid. and shielding; supports. geophysical surveying, such: as in well logging operations where galvanometers are used, the equipment may be mounted on a truckior trans:- portation from place to place. The truck, in

addition to carrying the electrical equipment including galvanometer recorders, usually has a cable winch by means of which electrodes and other equipment are lowered into and, moved along. the bore hole. I

When the truck motor and the winch are. 0p.- erating, the truck vibrates and, therefore, it is. customary to support the electrical equipment, especially the recorders, upon. jacks that may be extended to engage the earth and lift the.

For example, in;

on boats or'ba-rges. Rough weather is often encountered duringthe well logging operations and, as a consequence. the recorders which must be carried by the boat or barge are subjected to vibration and turning movement The effects of straight line vibrations have been overcome, to a large extent, by the: use of galvanometers of the type disclosed in; the Chilowsky Patent No. 2,024,966. The movingparts of the Ch-ilowskygalvanometers are immersed in a liquid of the same. density as the moving parts. Thus, when the Chilowsky galvanometers are subjected to straight line vibrations, the liquid and the moving. elements do not move relatively and unwanted deflections; of the indicating elements. do not: take v place. The Chilowsky type of: galvanometer is; insensitive: to all types of vibration except: those; that causeangular acceleration of the galvanometer: about I an axis parallel to the axis: of rotation: of. the

galvanometer coil.. When. the galvanometer' is subjected to thistypeof vibration, the galvanometer case. is rotated. while: the: sensitively sup-- ported mirror and coil assembly; because. ofjits' inertia, will not be: able to follow completely the rotation of the case so that; a. false indica-- tion. will result.

Many devices. or systems in which sensitive galvanometers are used are subject. to. angular acceleration, for example, in aircraft, boats and other vehicles. Even the Chi-lows-ky type of gal vanometer' is not completely satisfactory for-use in these devices.

An object of the present" invention. is to-provide measuring instruments having pivotally or rotatably mounted indicating elements that are substantially completely insensitive toall angular accelerations about axes parallel. with the. axes of pivotal or rotary movements of; the indicating elements.

Another object; of the invention is to provide galvanometers: for recorders that. will produce. accurate records even while being; subjected. to vibrations; of all; kinds.

Other objects of the invention become apparent from the. following. description of galvanometers embodying the. present; invention.

Galvanometers of the type embodying: the present invention are characterized by multiple mirrors, one of these mirrors being deflected by angular accelerations as wellasby variations in the value of electrical energy from a source to which. the galvanometer is connectedywhi'le the other mirror or mirrors may be deflected only by such angular accelerations, whereby deflections of the mirrors by angular accelerations act to nullify the effect of such angular accelerations.

More particularly, the new galvanometers may include two identical coil and mirror assemblies or two complete identical galvanometers that are provided with mirrors disposed in such relationship that a beam of light will be reflected from one mirror to the other and then to a recording surface. The above-identified copending application is directed to galvanometer apparatus in which only one of the galvanometers or coil assemblies is connected to a source of electrical energy to provide indications of the value of the energy, While the other coil assembly or galvanometer preferably is not energized and is solely responsive to angular acceleration. The present application is addressed to a modification in which both of the coil assemblies or both galvanometers may be connected to the source of electrical energy, but in this case, the connections are such that the mirrors are deflected in opposite directions.

Inasmuch as the two movable galvanometer elements have identical characteristics, any angular acceleration to which they are subjected will cause equal deflections in the same direction of the two corresponding mirrors. When the mirrors are arranged properly, the deflections caused by angular acceleration will offset each other and the light beam will not be substantially displaced with respect to the record surface. On the other hand, when the value of the electrical energy varies, the mirrors will be deflected unequally or in opposite directions and the change in angular relationship between the mirrors will cause deflection of the light beam relatively to the record surface.

The moving elements, for example, the coils of the galvanometer or the separate galvanometers may be immersed in liquid of the same density as the moving elements in accordance with the disclosure of the Chilowsky Patent No. 2,024,966 and are not sensitive to vibrations of other kinds. Therefore, a galvanometer having a multiple mirror arrangement or a pair of galvanometers, one of which is arranged for opposite deflection of its mirror by a change in the value of the electrical energy, in accordance with the present invention, may be made substantially insensitive to all types of vibration that they can withstand without damage.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing, in vertical section, of a typical form of galvanometer embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the galvanometer partly broken away to disclose details thereof;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuit of the galvanometer; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic showings of the action of the mirrors in controlling the direction of the light beam.

The galvanometer, including the magnet and coil arrangements, may be of any desired construction and, inasmuch as the magnet and coil arrangements of such galvanometers are well understood in the art, only diagrammatic showings of these elements are included in the drawings.

Illustrative of the invention, the galvanometer disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 may include a liquidtight casing (0 within which is mounted a C- shaped magnet ll having opposed north and south poles defining a gap therebetween.

Between the poles of the magnet II are rotatably mounted a pair of galvanometer coils l2 and I3 which are of conventional construction and which are mounted on the spindles l4 and 15 (Fig. 3) that are suitably mounted in bearings to permit free rotation of the coils. It will be understood that springs (not shown) will be provided for returning the coils to their initial positions.

It will be further understood that other types of suspensions for the coils l2 and I3 may be used instead of the spindles and the springs. For example, ribbons may be connected to the top and bottom of each coil which furnish support for the coils and torque for returning the coils to a reference position, as well as forming electrical connections to the coils.

The spindles l4 and I5 are provided near their upper ends with the mirrors (6 and I1, respectively, for rotation with the coils l2 and [3. The upper ends of the spindles l4 and [5 may be journalled with suitable bearings in a bracket i8 fixed to the top of the galvanometer casing [0. The casing I!) may be filled with a liquid of the same density as the coils and shafts, for example, perchloroethylene, which, as disclosed in the Chilowsky patent, will reduce unwanted deflection of the mirrors by straight line vibrations. Under some conditions, for example, when only angular acceleration is present, the liquid can be omitted from the casing.

As shown in Fig. 3, both of the galvanometer coils l2 and I3 are connected to the source of electrical energy to be measured, in such fashion that they are deflected in opposite directions by a change in the value of the electrical energy. The movement of both of the mirrors [6 and H substantially doubles the displacement of the beam relative to the record surface which may be advantageous in recording small changes in value.

The mirrors I6 and H and the coils and supporting elements are electrically and mechanically identical, that is, these assemblies are balanced statically and dynamically and are of the same shape, size and have the same characteristics throughout. Also, the coils I2 and 13 are preferably electrically identical so that they will have the same damping properties under all conditions.

Inasmuch as the coil assemblies and the mirrors are electrically and mechanically identical, they will partake of identical movements upon angular acceleration of the case ID about any axis parallel to the axes of the shafts M and [5. Accordingly, if the case it is subjected to angular acceleration, both of the mirrors will be deflected equally and a light beam from asource 20 falling, for example, on the mirror I6 at about its axis will be deflected relatively'to the other mirror, but this other mirror in turn will be defiected an equal amount so that the emergent beam from the mirror I! will strike substantially the same point on the record or indicator surface R.

A minor error may occur due to the fact, as illustrated in Fig. 4, that the reflected beam from the mirror 15 may not strike exactly on the axis of the mirror I? thus may emerge from a diiferent place which is displaced slightly from the axis of the mirror H, as shown in an exaggerated manner in dotted lines in Fig. 4. This displacement of the light beam, which simply is.

an error in parallax, is so small in practice as to be negligible.

The above-described conditions will be maintained so long as the mirrors l6 and I! are not deflected by a change in the electrical energy supplied to them. Upon a variation in the value of the electrical energy supplied to the coils l2 and I3, the angular positions of the mirrors I6 and I! with respect to one another will be changed, with the result that the light beam will be deflected relatively to the record surface R. If, during a change in the electrical value supplied to the coils l2 and I3, there is an angular acceleration of the galvanometer casing 10, both mirrors will be deflected equally, but the beam will not be substantially displaced along the record surface R by such angular acceleration.

While the galvanometer has been illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 as having the mirrors parallel, it will be understood that the relative angularity of the mirrors may be varied as desired. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the mirrors 22 and 23 may be arranged at a right angle so that the light beam is reflected back substantially parallel to the beam of light emerging from the light source 24. The light beam may be directed at any other angle as the purpose demands. Thus, the angular relationship of the mirrors can be set by the manufacturer to fulfill requirements.

While it is desirable from the standpoint of ease of manufacture and compactness to mount the two indicating coils I2 and 13 within the same casing and between the poles of the same magnet, it will be understood that similar results may be obtained by using two separate galvanometers having identical mechanical and electrical characteristics. Both galvanometers are sensitive to angular acceleration and have their mirrors so arranged that any deflection of the mirrors of both by angular acceleration are such as to compensate for, or nullify the effect of, such angular accelerations.

In some cases it may be desirable to have more than two coil and mirror assemblies or more than two galvanometers and these arrangements may be provided following the principles outlined above.

From the preceding description of typical forms of galvanometer embodying the present invention, it will be understood that galvanometers may be provided which are insensitive to all types of vibrations and angular acceleration and-thus are entirely satisfactory for use in aircraft, trains, trucks, boats and other vehicles, as

well as installations where vibration is present and cannot readily be avoided. Moreover, the invention can be used with other types of devices which have their accuracy affected by angular acceleration, for example, weighing balances, sensitive testing devices and the like which have a pivotally or rotatably mounted element that is deflected by a change in the value of a quantity being measured or determined.

It will be understood further that devices of the type embodying the invention are susceptible of considerable modification so long as assemblies responsive to angular acceleration have identical dynamic characteristics. Therefore, the form of the invention described above should be considered as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A galvanometer comprising at least two movable coil assemblies having substantially idensubstantially parallel axes of rotation, mirrors tical dynamic characteristics, mirrors carried by and rotatable with said coil assemblies for reflecting a beam of light from one mirror to the other and from the latter to a surface, and means connecting both of said coil assemblies to a source of electrical energy to rotate said coil assemblies in opposite directions upon change of the value of the electrical energy.

2. A galvanometer comprising at least two 'movable coil assemblies having substantially identical dynamic characteristics and having substantially parallel axes of rotation, mirrors carried by and rotatable with said coil assemblies for reflecting a beam of light from one mirror to the other and from the latter to a surface, said mirrors disposed substantially parallel to, and facing one another, and means connecting both of said coil assemblies to a source of electrical energy to rotate said coil assemblies in op- ,posite directions upon change of the value of the electrical energy.

3. A galvanometer comprising at least two movable coil assemblies having substantially identical dynamic characteristics and having REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ritzmann Aug. 25, 1942 Number 

